What mobile phone to take from USA to Ukraine

[Albert]

Confession - -  I do not have a mobile phone in USA.  I know very little about them.  Keep this in mind, please.

I have been to FSU many times.  First several times, I got by without mobile.  Last several times I have had the use of mobile in FSU.  These mobiles have been lent by companies I work with or by lady friends, and I have rented a couple of mobile phones while there.  Now I am thinking it will be less hassle if I just buy one for use only while I am there.

The last one I rented in Ukraine, they showed me how the new sim chip was placed under the battery and then they set up all the connections for me.  Here in USA I have looked at mobile phones of friends and there was no sim chip under the battery.  Don't know if they even have sim chips anywhere . . . I didn't take them completely apart.

I have read in some of the discussions on these sites about GMS vs other systems, about bi and tri band phones, and many other terms that I know nothing about.

So I would like to get some serious advice from those who actually know something about this.  I am leary of getting advice from the phone sellers at the mall shops here in USA because many of these young kid sellers probably don't really know if the particular phone would actually work in Ukraine.

What sort of features should I require of a phone purchased here in USA if it is to be taken and used in Ukraine?   What are the important words, features, etc., that are absolute requirements for the phone to have?

What I am thinking I will do is purchase the phone here, take it to Ukraine on my next trip in April, buy a sim chip there, and use the phone there.

So what are the suggestions, brand and model numbers, etc. and what problems am I overlooking, etc., etc.

[Bruno]

[line]

The last one I rented in Ukraine, they showed me how the new sim chip was placed under the battery and then they set up all the connections for me.  Here in USA I have looked at mobile phones of friends and there was no sim chip under the battery.  Don't know if they even have sim chips anywhere . . . I didn't take them completely apart.
[line]


All GSM have a place for sim chip... but in america, some telephone are locked for work with only one compagny... the change of sim allow you to use several compagny, one by sim... you can certainly use GSM with only one compagny but you will pay roaming expense when these compagny don't cover the regio...
[line]


I have read in some of the discussions on these sites about GMS vs other systems, about bi and tri band phones, and many other terms that I know nothing about.
[line]


Europe use 2 band ( 800 and 1600 mghz ), USA use a other frequency... if you wish use your gsm both in USA and Europa/russia, take a tri band... one little detail... in Europa/Russia, we use other norm for electric... 220V 50 Hz... don't forget take a transformator other you will not be able to charge your GSM...

[line]


So I would like to get some serious advice from those who actually know something about this.  I am leary of getting advice from the phone sellers at the mall shops here in USA because many of these young kid sellers probably don't really know if the particular phone would actually work in Ukraine.

What sort of features should I require of a phone purchased here in USA if it is to be taken and used in Ukraine?   What are the important words, features, etc., that are absolute requirements for the phone to have?

What I am thinking I will do is purchase the phone here, take it to Ukraine on my next trip in April, buy a sim chip there, and use the phone there.
[line]


My advice,... by a occassion GSM two band in Ukraine ( old model for +- 10$ )... and buy a prepaid ukrainian sim card... in case of thief, you lose not a lot... and you cannot use all the function that our model offert... Myself, i use a old Nokia 3310 ( e-bay, 12$ )... it is good for phone, SMS ( short message ), EMS ( extended message ), he is bi-band... you can buy prepaid card in ukraine from around 10$...

Don't need to buy a expensive GSM with camera, color screen, voice recognition, ... this will attract thief and you go loose a lot of money !!!

[Albert]

As a follow up:  I did purchase an unlocked tri-band mobile phone on e-bay before I left USA.

Took it to Odesa, bought a SIM chip, did some internal reprogramming to change the band, and it worked fine.

If you do this, be sure that the phone's charger is universal so that it will take as input either 110 or 220 current.  My phone even came with the plug adapter that fit into the Ukrainian plugs.

A couple of cautions if you think of doing an alternative which is to buy the phone in Ukraine.  I came across a guy there who had done this, and he had nothing but grief.  Good chance your instruction manual will not be in English which will make it very difficult for you to learn how to use all the features, send SMS, etc.

Also, the menues will come up in Russian on the phone.  Some of the phones have options where you can change the language, but some do not.  Even if the phone allows you to change the language on the menues, you will be using a Russian menu to try to find the place to change the language.

Sure, you can eventually find someone to help with these problems.  But if you don't want to be without  full use of a phone for a couple of days while this is being sorted out, then give it some thought.

Also there is an outfit named MOBAL (search on google) which will send you a free SIM chip that allows you to use their worldwide system.  It works worldwide (well not everywhere of course) because MOBAL has agreements with providers in the various countries.  But it is very expensive, something like $5 a minute.  However, when you are in a real bind to contact someone, the high cost will be worth it.  You don't have to prepay MOBAL, but you do have to give them credit card into that they bill when and if you use any time.  Of course Pros and Cons involved here also.

[Research]

I went to one sim card dot com got the cheapest phone and when i got to Ukraine put one of their Sim cards in and worked fine at Ukrainian rates.

[UTRO]

Buy a simple and easy to use phone in the USA, like an Unlocked Nokia Razor.
Remember UNLOCKED so you can put any Providers SIM Card in and it will work.
When you arrive in the Ukraine get a SIMCard anywhere, airport, whatever and buy some minutes.
Mobile Phone kiosks and shops are everywhere in the FSU.
In some smaller cities, SIN Cards are sometimes free. If not, they are pretty inexpensive.

[Shadow]

Mother of all bumps. 4 and a half years to get a reply. 

[UTRO]

Mother of all bumps. 4 and a half years to get a reply.  

Lol! You're right Shadow... I never saw the 2005, just the February part!! :whirling:

[Jack]

As some of the old info is a little outdated might be good to go over.

Most American phones will not work in Europe because we use a different frequency. Now if you get a phone here in the states and is a quad band, that's a good start. Quad band means it will work on all frequency's here and in Europe.  But quad band is not all you will need. Your American phone should be sim card compatible and unlocked.  Unlock means you can take the sim card out of your American phone and replace it will a local Ukraine or Russian sim card  (about $6).

Now it is possible for quad band American phones that are locked and not sim card compatible to work in Europe but the calls will be VERY expensive as you will be paying roaming and long distance charges.

So, if you want to have no problems buy a quad band phone, sim card compatible and unlocked.

[aikorob]

Major GSm carriers here ---TMobile & AT&T

Check eBay for older used phones--since everybody is going to I-Phones; you can get cheap quad band unlocked Nokia or Palm Treos for less than $50

[Brianinaz]

I would just buy a cheap one there. I did (twice; I lost the first one) and had no problems. The second one I bought at the airport in Kiev while waiting for my connecting flight. The girls at the counter switched it over to English for me. In most shops you will find someone that knows enough English to help you out. At the least memorise the Russian for English please (phoneticly Bangleskie balshalsta). If you don't speak Russian you're going to have an interpreter and they can help you. The manuals are going to be in Russian but almost all are available on the internet in English as a download.

Not all GSM phones will work with out of region sim chips so if you're going to buy one here be sure it will work with a Ukrainian sim chip.

[threeships]

 if your current cell phone is equipped with CDMA (code division multple access) which vast variety are you only need to notify your phone carrier, get the dialing instuctions for making calls within Ukraine or to US,, you will pay by the usuage. my rate with verizon is 2.89/min   Ukraine had implemented the CDMA connectivity but Russia has not...check it out, no need to get another phone.
 

[Chicagoguy]

I have an AT&t quad band - GSM phone. I called them and they said they could unlock it with no problem. He then said they charge $ 5.00 a minute. He then suggested I leave my phone at home. Maybe new SIM card and pre pay card would work instead ?

[supranatural]

I have an AT&t quad band - GSM phone. I called them and they said they could unlock it with no problem. He then said they charge $ 5.00 a minute. He then suggested I leave my phone at home. Maybe new SIM card and pre pay card would work instead ?

They did not explain fully.  They meant that if you use the AT&T sim card in the phone the roaming charges will be $5 per minute.  The are hoping that you will do that as they will make a bunch of $$$ off you while you are over in the FSU.  All you have to do is take out the sim card when you get to Ukraine or Russia (so you are not using AT&T on roaming), get a local sim card, enter the code for the minutes (you purchase minutes as you go) and you are set to use the phone with local rates.  I've done this with Motorola Razr, LG Vu, Sony Ericcson w580i and iPhone, it works perfectly for any GSM phone that is unlocked, no rocket science.

[Mars]

I have an AT&t quad band - GSM phone. I called them and they said they could unlock it with no problem. He then said they charge $ 5.00 a minute. He then suggested I leave my phone at home. Maybe new SIM card and pre pay card would work instead ?

You have a confused knowledge of this; and possibly ATT has caused this confusion.

If you were to use ATT service while overseas, and pay the $5.00 per minute, then there would be NO REASON to have the phone unlocked.  Unlocking allows for use of a SIM chip from a provider other than ATT.  Unlocking does nothing with respect to allowing use of ATT service while roaming the globe.

So go with the plan to have ATT unlock your phone.  Then buy a local SIM chip in Ukraine or Russia and enjoy local calling rates.  SIM chips usually cost no more than $10 and then you buy prepaid cards that provide X minutes of call time.  The cost per minute for local calls (and text messages) is usually pretty cheap

[HiTech]

You have a confused knowledge of this; and possibly ATT has caused this confusion.

If you were to use ATT service while overseas, and pay the $5.00 per minute, then there would be NO REASON to have the phone unlocked.  Unlocking allows for use of a SIM chip from a provider other than ATT.  Unlocking does nothing with respect to allowing use of ATT service while roaming the globe.

So go with the plan to have ATT unlock your phone.  Then buy a local SIM chip in Ukraine or Russia and enjoy local calling rates.  SIM chips usually cost no more than $10 and then you buy prepaid cards that provide X minutes of call time.  The cost per minute for local calls (and text messages) is usually pretty cheap

I 2nd this method, I switch to at&t because of being able to use the phone when in transition, yes expensive but can use any where if needed and sms is not to bad.

If you call them they will unlock it and then any sms will work with the phone. So on arrival switch chips.

Dale